Infernal Quotes
The phrase ‘This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion at all!!!’ is often quoted to imply that Adams was opposed to religion. This is a classic use of using quotations out of context for if one reads the entire quotation, Adams is stating that without religion the world would not be a particularly fit place. Some religionists then use the entire quotation to argue that Adams was a religious, Christian man who saw America as a Christian nation. That too is out of the context of the totality of his views—see {592753}.
There were times when the President and cabinet members almost came to blows. In 1824 the Secretary was furious with President Monroe about some customs appointments. He raised his can saying:. The president, not to be outdone picked up a fire poker and hurled some unknown epithet back at Crawford. Apologies were given after this stand-off.
Reaction when the Dutch heard that the English King Charles I had been beheaded. The regicide was very shocking to most people in Europe—even in the Netherlands which then had a republic.
